Roman baths, Pompeii

No Roman town would be complete without a bathing complex. Pompeii featured a marvelous facility. The exterior of the structure wasn’t much to see in its current condition:

DSC_3157But going inside, one is very impressed. The photo below shows the sort of locker room with niches where bathers places their belongings:

DSC_3158Here’s a look at what was a sauna. The break in the wall shows the hollow space where hot air flowed to warm the room:

DSC_3159And here’s a look at an indoor pool, complete with skylight:

DSC_3167And another bathing area:

DSC_3160Of  course there was quite a bit of decoration as can be seen from the ceiling show in the next image:

DSC_3165The Romans thought of everything for this facility. It must have been a pleasant place to get clean, relax, and have a chat with your fellow resident. Surely it was the precursor to today’s modern spas.

Published in: on November 24, 2018 at 1:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Theater and Temples, Pompeii

Depending upon how you enter Pompeii, the theater is one of the first significants sites you’ll see. Visitors are permitted to go all the way to stage level:

DSC_3118One can only imagine the shows the Romans put on there. There’s also an interesting temple nearby, but I couldn’t find any details about it. Here’s a photo looking in from the side:

DSC_3119Of course, near the center of town you’ll find the grand temples like the one shown below:

DSC_3135

Looking at the base of the columns in the photo above, this structure must have been quite large, as were many things the Romans built. They certainly understand the grandeur of scale. More photos to come showing houses and business. Check back soon!

Published in: on November 21, 2018 at 2:21 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Pantheon, Rome, Italy

The crowds at the Pantheon jostled me, causing an out of focus exterior photo that I was unaware of until later. Quite a disappointment. However, my interior shots came out okay.

DSC_3082Entering through the massive doors is quite an experience, diminished by the surge of people.

DSC_3085

Still an impressive structure built by the Romans and later converted to a Catholic facility.

DSC_3084Here’s that out of focus exterior shot, just for fun.

DSC_3077So many people.

Published in: on November 17, 2018 at 1:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

Like many famous public sites in Rome, the Trevi Fountain can be crowded to the point where taking a decent photo is practically impossible. I managed to snap this one on a lucky afternoon.

DSC_3073I went back early in the morning a few days later and tried again:

+V9XrGQITWyB%QEW2g1WygThe light wasn’t as good, hence the grey-looking statuary. However, on that same morning I saw a photographer working with a couple of models featuring wedding attire:

EKVlEK9wTOugnnREKQ8wlQIf you’re going to visit this site, do it early, then go to breakfast.

Published in: on November 16, 2018 at 12:31 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,